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w. P. PAXTON SEWING MACHINE Original Filed June 16 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet gmhtov Aug. 27, 1929. v w PAXTQN 1,725,825

SEWING MACHINE Original Filed June 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet -2 amnion Aug. 27, 1929. w P PAXTON 1,725,825

SEWING MACHINE Original Filed June 16, 1924 5 Sheets-$heet 5 Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. PAXTON, OF PADUCAH, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO SOUTHERN TEXTILE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PADUGAH, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF KENTUCKY.

SEWING- MACHINE.

Gontinuation of application Serial No. 720,392, filed June 16, 1924. This application filed July 6, 1927. Serial No. 203,782.

This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines, the present embodiment of the invention relating more particularly to that type or class of sewing machines commonly known as dial loopers, being more or less especially designed and adapted for joining the adjacent loops of two portions of knitted fabric by an elastic chain of stitches.

The present improvements are particularly designed and adapted for use in connection with machines of this class in which a continuously and uniformly revolving movement is imparted to the ring of impaling pins, as exemplified in the Davis Patents Nos. 1,050; L32 and 1,050,433, of January 14, 1913, and in the VVrightPatent No. 1,092,885 of April M, 1914.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a generally improved machine of the type or class indicated through the provision of improved mechanism, hereinafter referred to, including, for example, means for carrying the thread needle laterally while the needle is being reciprocated in the loops to be united on the impaling pins and to correspond with the feeding movement imparted to the same by the dial ring and for imparting a step over lateral movement to the needle arm and needle at the conclusion of the Working stroke or when the needle is fully retracted to cause the point of thelatter to enter the base portion of the groove of the next succeeding impaling pin.

More specifically, the mechanism for imparting these carrying and step over movements to the thread needle are so constructed as to be readily adjustable for varying the extent of said movements, such adjustments not requiring the removal of any parts of the mechanism from the machine nor the substitution of interchangeable elements therein.

With the above mentioned objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts,

, hereinafter described, illustrated infsome of the embodiments in the accompanying draw-" ings, and particularly pointed out the ap;

p ded laim Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a sewing machine of the dial looper type constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in central vertical section throughthe dial and dial support;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1; showing the adjustable actuating means for carrying the reciprocatory needle arm and thread needle laterally to correspond with the feeding movement of the Work holder when the needle is in the work and for imparting a step over movement laterally to the same at the end of the working stroke whereby the point of the thread needle will be cause to enter and traverse the base portions of the successive impaling pins.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 4l-ft of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical lay-out of the thread needle and loops of fabric to be united .on the impalin g pins with the development of the actuating'cam, the several views jointly showing the successive relative movements imparted to the needle arm and thread needle in carrying the thread needle laterally during its reciprocatory movements in the loops to correspond with the movements of the latter as they are carried by the impaling pin and for imparting to the needle arm and thread needle a step over movement laterally with respect to the impaling pins at the conclusion of the working stroke so as to cause the thread needle to enter with its point at the base portion of the next succeeding impaling pin.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the universal connection or joint between the needle arm and the needle arm actuating link.

For the purpose of illustration the work holder or carrier,""whi ch may be made sectional,is app'li'e'd to' a sewing maeliineof the dial loope'rtype comprising astationary' support or dial plate 1, removably secured upon a shaft 2, said shaft depending from a head 3 of an overhanging arm 3. Said arm terminates in a bed plate 3 adapted to be bolted or secured to a suitable support for securing the machine in proper working position. Upon reference to Fi 2, it will be seen that the dial plate 1 is keyed upon shaft 2 and a nut 2 threaded on a threaded extension 2 of said shaft. The dial plate or support 1 is provided near its periphery with a guide or raceway 1 said dial plate, in the present instance, being provided with a ring 4, the outer periphery of which overhangs the guideway 1 and a sectional work holder or ring member carrying the impaling pins traveling therein. The work holder or carrier,in the present i.nstance,is of ring shape fitted in and guided by the raceway 1 and comprises a series of ring sections or segments 5 provided with the usual series of peripheral outwardly and hor'zontally extending impaling pins 6 secured in the usual manner by means of the clamping segments 5 As a means of readily inserting and removing the work holder or ring sections 5 independently of the work holder or ring actuator feeoing mechanism and independently of the sewing mechanism and the actuating mechanism therefor, a portion of the overhanging ring member l is cut away as at l" (see Fig. 1) and as a means for holding the sections or segments in proper position and feeding the same about the dial plate, a retatably mounted gear ring 7 is provided (see Fig. 5) said gear ring having teeth 7 at its inner periphery meshing with a pinion 8 on the lower end of a vertical shaft 8 in dial plate 1. As a means of providing a suitable interlock connection between the segments of the carrier or work holder and the feeding ring 7 and at the same time readily permitting of the insertion or removal of the ring segm nts, the latter are provided with gear teeth 5' interlocking with similarly shaped teeth 7 on the outer periphery of gear ring 7. In the construction shown in Fig. 5, it will be apparent that as the pinion 8 is rotated through the driving connections hereinafter referred to, the interconnected sections 5 and the gear ring 7 will be simultaneously driven or rotated, the lower off-set bearing portions of the sections or segments 5 being slidably mounted in the guideway 1 and being guided by the latter.

As a means of imparting a continuously and uniformly revolving or feeding movement to the work holder or carrier consisting, in the present instance, of the ring sections 5 and impaling pins 6, the shaft 8 is mounted in a bearing member 12 (see Fig. 5) secured, in the present instance, on the top of the dial plate 1 by means of an attaching element or screw 12", said bearing 12, in the present instance. being provided with a cup-shaped housing member 12 and a removable cover 12". The housing members 12 and 12 enclose a horizontal gear 13 on the shaft 8, said gear 13 meshing with a worm 1i keyed on a shaft 15. In the present instance, the outer end of the shaft 15 is mounted in a bearing 16", forming a part of a bracket 16 slidnbly and adjustably mounted on the dial plate 1 by means of a screw 17 passing through a guide slot 16 in the bracket. lly this arrangement, should it be desired to throw the worm out of gear with the gear 13 the bearing bracket and outer end of the shaft may be moved over to bring them out of engagement.

The shaft 15 is connected to a second shaft 18, by means of a universal coupling member 19, the second shaft 18 being mounted in suit able bearing brackets 20, and being provided with a spiral gear 21, meshing with a second spiral gear 22, carried by the main driving shaft 23. The main driving shaft 23 OXl'clltls through the base portion of the overhanging arm 3 and has its ends supported in bearing brackets 24. The main driving shaft 23 is adapted to receive its motion through a pulley 25, provided with a belting con'nnunicating with a suitable source of power. The pulley 25 is loosely mounted on the shaft 23 and may be thrown into and out of engagement with the shaft by means of a clutch member 26, adapted to be shifted by mean of a hinged clutch shift member 2?, having the rollers 27 extending into the groove portion 26 of the clutch 26 (see Fig. 4:), said clutch 26 being adapted to be operated by means of a shift lever 28, extending forwardly along the overhanging arm 3 being held. in its respective positions by means of a spring resisted plunger stud 29 (see Bi 1) operat ing in the upper member of a guide braclnrt 29 carried on the arm Referring now to the improved sewing or looping mechanism it will be seen that as in the Davis and lVrig-ht patents hcreinbei'ore referred to the curved thread needle 230 if; carried by and reciprecated over and above each of the impaling pins by meem; of er. oscillatory needle arm 31, car ied upon a be ing shaft or stem extcndi from the aid 3: of the overhanging supporting arm t of the machine.

As a means of reciprocating or OfbCll -llllirrf the needle arm 31 and the thread needle an carried thereby in tho sewi g operation. the needle arm is connected to a link 83, by means of a suitable universal joint or onnectiw hereinafter referred to, said link 33 bo -w connected to a pair of lugs 34: of an :ulfi able connection by means of :2. vertica eir ing pin or QltillOZlt Ell-, so that-as the needle arm and thread needle are moved latera brute la er "milled i the reciprocation the connectii'ig link dur n of the latter through the medium of the pitman arm 35, carried by an eccentric member 36, on the main driving shaft 23. The hear ing link or connection 34 may be attached to and detached from the pitman arm and be secured by alock nut 34 which also affords means for adjusting the connection between the eccentric member and the thread needle and the needle arm. As means of providing a suitable universal connection or joint between the needle arm 31 and the end of the link 33, the latter may be provided with a ball bearing member 33, extending into a socket recess 3?", of a cylindrical shaped hearing member or block 37 (see Fig. 7) secured to one side of the needle arm 31, said bearing member 37 being provided with a threaded opening at one side to receive and contain a threaded screw member 37 having a. concave bearing portion 37", forming a partof the socket in the member 37 and affording means for attaching and detaching the ball with respect to the socket.

The needle arm 31 terminates atits top in branches 31, and the latter are provided with hearing heads 31 carried on the hearing shaft or stem 32, and said bearing heads 31 are adapted to be moved longitudinally on the bearing shaft 32, whereby said needle arm 31 and the thread needle 30 may be moved laterally during the reciprocation thereof by the means to be 110w described.

As a means of carrying the thread needle laterally (in the present instance from left to right) while the needle is being reciprocated in the loops 38, to be united on the impaling pins 6 (see Fig. 6) and to correspond with the feeding movement imparted by the dial ring and its feeding mechanism, and particularly as a means of imparting a step over lateral movementto the needle arm and needle at the conclusion of the working stroke or when the needle is fully retracted (see third and fourth positions indicated in Fig. 6) to cause the point of the thread needle to move over (in the present instance from right to left) to meet the next succeeding impaling pin being fed so that the point of the thread needle will register with and enter the groove of such next impaling pin being fed, a hearing or guide block 42 (see Figs. 1 and 3) is interposed between the heads 31 of the needle arm and is slidably mounted on the bearingshaft 32. The guide block 42 is provided at its top with arecess 42, to receive a similarly shaped bearing head 43, connccted to a bolt or shank member 43, the parts 43 and 43 being of substantially inverted T-shape in form and the bearing bolt 43 being surrounded with a spacing washer 43". The sleeve or ferrule portion of the member 43 is surrounded by a bearing block 44, and a second washer 44 is mounted upon the sleeve portion of the member 43", and the head of the bolt 43 is adapted to be adjusted laterally in the recess 42 by means of a nut 43, it being obvious that the spacing or sleeve portion of the member 43" will prevent the flanged portion of the member 43 and the second washer 44 from binding upon the movable block 44.

As a means of actuating the guide block 42, together with the needle arm and thread needle in synchronous relation to the sewing mechanism and the constantly rotating ring of impaling pins, a. lever 45, is provided, said lever being slidably and adjustably secured intermediate its ends to a pivot bolt 46, extending vertically through 2. bearing opening in an arm 47, slidably and adjustaliily connected to the side of the overhanging arm 3 of the machine. The bolt 46 is provided withfiattened sides 46, to receive and interlock with the sides of the longitudinal slot 45 in the lever and the sides 46 terminate in an integral bearing washer 45 resting on the top of the arm 4'7 so that when the washer 45 is drawn down by the nut 45 the slotted portion of the lever clamped to the sliding head of the pivot bolt, said bolt being removably mounted in the end of the bearing arm by means of a nut- 45 and washer 45 beneath the bearing head or end of the arm 47. As a means of reciprocating or oscillat ing the lever 45, the latter is provided at one end with a guide roller 48, extending downwardly and secured by means of a flanged head 49, having a reduced shank or bolt 49, extending through an opening in an end of the lever and secured by means of a nut 49". The pendant guide roller 48 is adapted to be guided in a laterally inclined cam or guide slot 50, of a rotatable cam body 01' wheel 50, keyed or otherwise non-rotatably secured upon the driving shaft 23. The inclination of the cam or guide slot 50, and the position of the rotatable member or cam 50, are such with respect to the relative positions of the thread needle and the relation of the la"- ter to the loops to be united on the i m paling pin that the connected parts will carry the thread needle laterally while being reciprocated in the loops to be united to correspond with the feeding movement imparted to the latter by the ring of impaling pins, as indicated most clearly in the first, second and third positions set forth diagrammatically in Fig. 6 of the drawings. As a means of im parting relatively abrupt or quick step over lateral movement to the needle arm and needle at the conclusion of the working stroke or when the needle is fully retracted, as in dicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and to cause the thread needle to move over from the full line to the dotted line position shown in the fourth position indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings to meet the position of the next succeeding impaling pin and whereby the point of the thread needle upon its initial forward movement will enter the base per tion of the groove of the next succeeding im paling pin being fed, the cam groove or slot 50 is provided with an abruptly curved port-ion 50 which will impart such step over lateral movement to the connected parts and the thread needle carrying the latter to the fourth position indicated.

As a means of adjusting the throw of the guide block 42 and the movements imparted to the needle arm 31 and thread needle 30 to meet rings of impaling pins having a var ing number of such pins to the inch, the bearing arm 17 is adjustable longitudinally of the arm 3 and the lever 45 to correspond ingly change the fulcrum point of the lever by being provided with a base bracket 47, having an adjusting slot 4-7 through which passes a set screw or cap bolt 17 the rear end of the base bracket 4'- being provided with a guide lug extending into and interlocking with the guide slot 47" at the side of the arm 3. It will be obvious that by loosening the nut on the top of the pivot bolt 46 and the cap screw or bolt 47 the bracket 417 may be readily moved longitudinally, thereby changing the pivot point of the lever to get any desired adjustment with respect to the lateral movement imparted to the needle arm and thread needle.

In the present instance, the machine shown for the purpose of illustration only is provided with a stitch finger 51, pivotally mounted in a supporting bracket 52 at one side of the ring of impaling pins by means of a pivoted block 53, the free end of the finger being adapted to ride upon a plurality of impaling pins when the latter are empty and to ride or travel upon a plurality of the adjacent pairs of loops of fabric to be united on the impaling pins as the loops are carried under the tongue portion of the stitch finger by the feeding movement of the dial ring. [is in the former Davis and Wright patents referred to, the free working end of the stitch finger is held down by the action of a spring 54:, extending from the bracket 52 and engaging the opposite end of said finger, the curved thread needle 30 being adapted to pass beneath the stitch finger during its reciprocatery movements through the loops of fabric to be united and over and above the subjacent impaling pins carrying such loops.

As in the former Wright patent referred to, the machine is provided with a thread carrying looper 55, having a looper hook or head 55, so that when the looper 55 is in its down position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, a loop is formed to receive the thread needle and to be taken up by the latter as the thread needle advances.

As the construction and operation of the sewing and looping mechanism in this case corresponds with that disclosed and claimed in the former Davis and Wright patents referred to and particularly since such details form no specific part of the present application, the same need not be described in detail.

As in the former I'Vrightpatent, the looper hook is mounted on a. curved shank carried in a rotatably mounted stub shaft 563, mounted in a supporting block or member 57, said block 5'? being carried on a ln'acket 57, mounted on the dial plate or support 1 and secured by screws 57". As in. said former Wright patent, the requisite to and fro movement in a substantially semi-circular path is imparted to the looping hook in synchronous relation to the thread needle by means of a curved guide slot 58, in a rcciprocatory slide member or plate 58 mounted in the block 5'? and given its movements through the medium of a connecting link 59, connected at one end of the recipro atory plate 58 by means of a suitable connection 59 and at the other end connected to an adjustable link 59", connected to a yoke (30, and secured by means of a lock nut said yoke 60 extending over an eccentric block or head 61, mounted on the shaft 23.

This application a continuation of application Serial No. 720,392, filed June 16, 1924-.

What I claim is:

1. In a sewing machine, a support, a rotatable shaft, a series of impaling pins, means for feeding said impaling pins, a reciprocatory needle, means actuated by said shaft for carrying said needle laterally during reciprocation to correspond with the feed of said impaling pins and for imparting a step over movement at the end of its working stroke to register with the next impaling pin, and means for adjusting said needle carry ing mechanism to vary the extent of lateral movement imparted to said needle.

2. In a sewing machine, a support, a rotatable shaft, a section of impaling pins and feeding mechanism therefor, a thread needle and actuating connections therefor, and adjustable mechanism operable by said shaft for carrying said thread carrying needle variable distances while being reciprocated in registration with the respective impaling pins to correspond with the feeding movements of the latter and for imparting a variable step over movement to said thread carrying needle opposite the direction of feed to cause the needle to enter above the base portion of the neXt successive impaling pin being fed.

3. In a sewing machine, in combination, a continuously moving work-holder including impaling pins, means for imparting movement to said work holder, a thread needle reciprocating longitudinally of said impaling pins, mechanism operable by said workholder actuating means for carrying said thread needle to correspond with the feeding moven'ients of said impaling pins and for giv ing a step over movement to the same at the end of the working stroke and opposite the direction of feed to meet and traverse the next succeeding pin, and means for adjusting said carrying and step over movements imparted to said thread needle to vary the extent of said movements.

4-. In a sewing machine, a series of impaling pins, a driving shaft, means for feeding said series of impaling pins, a reciprocatory needle arm and thread needle operatively connected to said driving shaft, and means operable by said shaft for moving said needle arm to carry the thread needle in the direction of the feed of said impaling pins and in registration with the impaling pins when in the work and for imparting to said thread needle step over movements opposite the direction of feed of said impaling pins and corresponding to the spacing of the latter when the thread needle is out of the work, said last mentioned means being adjustable to vary the extent of the carrying and step over movements of said thread needle.

5. In a sewing machine, a support, a workholder including a series of impaling pins, means for uniformly feeding said impaling pins, a thread needle, means for reciprocating said thread needle longitudinally of said impaling pins, means for carrying said thread needle laterally while in the work and in the direction ot feed to correspond with the movement of said workholder and impaling pins, and means for imparting a step over movement to said thread needle when out of the work in a direction opposite the feed of said impaling pins to carry the point of the needle in registration with the next impaling pin being fed, said carrying means being adjustable to vary the extent of lateral movement imparted to said needle.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination with a continuously rotating ring of impaling pins including a. reciprocatory thread needle passing longitudinally above each of said impaling pins; of mechanism. for carrying said thread needle when in the work to correspond with the feeding movements of said impaling pins and for imparting a step over movement to the same when out of the work corresponding approximately to the spacing of said pins and to meet the next succeeding pin being fed, and means for varying the extent of the carrying and step over movements imparted to said thread needle.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a rotatably mounted ring of impaling pins, and a laterally movable oscillatory arm carrying a curved thread needle movable in registration over each of said ii'npaling pins, a d iving shaft provided with connections for recijn'ocating said oscillatory arm and curved thread needle, a cam body and connections for moving said oscillatory arm laterally whereby said thread needle is carried laterally during its reciprocatory movements in the loops to correspond with the movements of, the latter as carried by said impaling pins, and means for variably adjusting said connections to alter the extent of the lateral motion imparted to the needle.

8. In a sewing machine, a support, a workholder including a series of impaling pins carried by said support, means for uniformly feeding said impaling pins, a reciprocatory needle arm and needle, means for carrying said needle during its reciprocatory movement above each impaling pin to correspond with the feeding movement of the latter, means for imparting a step over movement to said needle at the end of its working stroke and opposite the direction of the feed move ment of said impaling pins corresponding to the spacing of said impaling pins, and means for changing said needle actuating mechanism to alter the extent of carrying movement imparted to said needle.

9. In. a sewing machine, a support including a continuously feeding section armed with .impaling pins, a reciprocatory thread needle movable longitudinally above each impaling pin, means for reciprocating said thread needle, means for carrying said thread needle in the direction of feed of said impaling pins to carry said thread needle in registration with each of said pins while in the work and for imparting a step over movement thereto when out of the work and opposite the line of feed to bring the same into registration with the next impaling pin being fed, and means for changing the adjustment of said needle actuating mechanism to vary the extent of the carrying motion of the needle.

10. In a sewing machine, a support, a series of impaling pins, means for feeding said. impaling pins, a reciprocatory needle, and means for carrying said needle laterally during reciprocation to correspond with the feed of said pins, said carrying means being adjustable to alter the extent of lateral carrying motion imparted to the needle.

11. In a sewing mechanism, a support, a series of impaling pins, means for feeding said impaling pins, a reciprocatory needle, and means for carrying said needle laterally during reciprocation to correspond with the feed of said pins, said carrying means comprising a lever and means for varying the throw of said lever to alter the extent of lateral carrying motion imparted to the needle.

12. In a sewing machine, a support, a series of impaling pins, means for feeding said impaling pins, a reciprocatory needle, and means for carrying said needle laterally during reciprocation to correspond with the feed of said pins, said carrying means comprising a lever and a pivot member for said lever,

the relative positions of said lever and its pivot being adjustable to alter the extent of carrying motion imparted to the needle.

13. In a sewing machine, a support, a series 5 of impaling pins, means for feeding said impaling pins, a reciprocatory needle and means for carrying said needle laterally during reciprocation to correspond with the feed of said pins, said carrying means comprising a lever having an adjustable fulcrum for altering the extent of carrying motion i1n parted to said needle.

WILLIAM P. PAXTON. 

